E-Bikes in trend: Impact on mode choice and CO2 reduction
In their new article "Electrifying choices: How electric bicycles impact on mode choice and CO2 emissions", Thomas Hagedorn, Marlena Meier and Jan Wessel analyze (i) the influence of e-bike ownership on transport mode choice and (ii) how a change in e-bike ownership affects CO2 emissions in Germany using longitudinal data from household surveys from 2016 to 2022. The results of the mixed multinomial logit model (MMNL model) show that the change in e-bike ownership significantly affects travel behavior. The net emissions savings per person after acquiring an e-bike amount to 526.9 kg CO2 per person and year, which is roughly 6.6% of the average annual total CO2 emissions per capita in Germany. The article is published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment.
Gernot Sieg from the University of Münster and Berthold U. Wigger from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) introduce the vehicle value externality as a previously unacknowledged cost of car traffic. Unlike established externalities such as emissions or congestion, the vehicle value externality arises from the impact of vehicle value on accident damages. By developing a model linking insurance premiums to this externality and applying it to German car traffic data, the annual aggregate cost are estimated at 10 billion euros in 2021.Since this externality has not been internalized by policy makers so far, too expensive cars are bought in Germany and therefore insurance premiums for cars are too high. The article is published in the journal 
A speed limit for highways is a highly emotional issue in Germany. Economists should contribute methodologically sound facts. In his new commentary, Gernot Sieg considers which aspects of a cost-benefit analysis for a speed limit by Goessling et al (2023) could be improved. The commentary was recently published in the journal Ecological Economics 
Fuel prices are an important determinant for many people's transport behavior and can influence not only motorized transport, but also the use of other modes of transport. In their new 
Increasing cycling attractiveness is essential for city planners to enable more sustainable mobility. One way to improve cycling quality is to reduce the frequency of stopping, thereby enhancing cycling flow. Against this backdrop, the city of Münster installed an open-source green wave assistant designed specifically for cyclists, located 110 meters in front of the traffic lights. In their new article "Riding the Green Wave - How Countdown Timers at Bicycle Traffic Lights Impact on Cycling Behavior", Christina Brand, Thomas Hagedorn, 
